Businessmen block road to resist building illegal market

Staff Reporter :The New Market businessmen blocked Mirpur roads for about five hours against the Dhaka North City Corporation's move to build the second floor of the market on Monday. They started the blockade at about 12:10pm and dispersed at 5pm after getting assurance from the local MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh that no second floor in the market would be constructed. "I assure you that no construction will be started without discussing with you (Businessmen). I will talk to the city corporation's top bosses in this regard. Now I ask you to withdraw blockade," Taposh said. Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of New Market Police Station Matlabur Rahman said the agitating businessmen returned to their business houses. No incident took place during their blockade. But, the commuters faced tremendous sufferings due to the blockade. A gridlock situation prevailed on the Mirpur Road and its adjacent areas. "I had to wait in the bus for at least four hours to go to Mirpur from New Market. It was very disgusting day in my life," Anika Tahmid, a resident of Mirpur, said. Jamal Uddin, a driver of VIP-27 Paribahan, said that his bus took at least three hours to reach Azimpur from Kalabagan. Meanwhile, the traders claimed that the building, a part of the heritage, was built in 1952. Besides, according to the original plan of New Market, the building is supposed to be one-storied, they said.Aminul Islam, a jeweler shop owner in the market, said the businessmen will again take to the streets in case of DNCC's return to the construction.